The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, has kicked off its 2025 Physicians’ Week with a press conference held at its Secretariat in Surulere on Monday morning.
Speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr Babajide Kehinde Saheed, welcomed journalists and members of the medical community to the week-long event, which began on Sunday with a Thanksgiving Service at the Chapel of Saint Luke the Physician, LASUTH, Ikeja.
According to Dr Saheed, the annual celebration is an important moment for medical professionals, policymakers, and partners to come together to reflect on the state of healthcare delivery in Lagos and across Nigeria — and to find lasting ways to make it better.
Focus of the 2025 Physicians’ Week
This year’s theme is “Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient.”
The keynote lecture will be delivered by Professor Akin Osibogun, a former Chief Medical Director of LUTH and Past President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. There’s also a sub-theme titled “AI Ethics and the Physician’s Role in Modern Healthcare” — which will be led by Dr. Arogundade, President of the Society for Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria, and Dr. Achese Inimgba, Founder of Medienna.
Dr. Saheed explained that the chosen theme reflects the urgent need to strengthen every part of Nigeria’s healthcare system. From policymaking to patient care, he said, there are still too many weak links that affect service delivery and overall efficiency.
Challenges and Call to Action
He highlighted several major challenges currently facing the healthcare sector, including the continuous brain drain, poor welfare for health workers, dependence on imported drugs and equipment, inadequate funding, and weak infrastructure. To address these, the NMA Lagos is calling on both the federal and state governments to take bold steps toward reforming and improving the system.
The association urged the government to:
1. Convene urgent health summits to review and align policies.
2. Improve remuneration and working conditions for doctors and health workers.
3. Pay outstanding skipping arrears and provide call-duty meals in hospitals.
4. Review the 2006 Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law to reflect current realities
5. Introduce structured two-term tenures for hospital leadership.
6. Reverse recent pay cuts and protect salary structures for Lagos doctors.
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A Word from the Chairman Dr Saheed reaffirmed the association’s commitment to improving doctors’ welfare and building a stronger, more efficient healthcare system in Lagos and across Nigeria.
“Our healthcare system needs consistent investment, political will, and policies that truly put patients first, If every link in the chain — from policy to patient works efficiently, Nigeria can achieve the kind of health system we all dream of.”
He also encouraged greater collaboration between government, professionals, and private stakeholders to ensure that quality healthcare becomes accessible and sustainable for all Nigerians.
